Amelia County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IX
R-5 Residential District
§ 325-9.1 Intent.
This district is intended to protect and preserve specific rural resources or qualities including farmland, wetlands, significant wildlife habitats, catchment areas for important drainage basins, water resources, environmentally sensitive areas and natural recreational resources, while providing areas for sensitive, rural residential development to coexist with agricultural and natural resources so as to cause minimal impact on the surrounding areas. This district is established to conserve open space resources while facilitating low-intensity farming operations, conservation of water and forest resources, and maintenance of a distinctly rural environment. While the intent of this district is generally similar to that of the A-5 and RP-5 Districts, there is a greater emphasis on the integration of rural residential uses with the long-range protection of agricultural and natural resources in this district. Residential development in this district should be designed to minimize the fiscal, economic, environmental and infrastructure impacts on surrounding properties and on the County as a whole.
§ 325-9.2 Permitted uses.
A.
Accessory structures and uses.
B.
Agriculture, general.
C.
Agriculture, intensive, expansion of existing.
D.
Agriculture, limited (on less than 10 acres), excluding horses.
E.
Antique shops.
F.
Assembly hall.
G.
Bed-and-breakfast.
H.
Beekeeping.
I.
Cemeteries.
J.
Custom meat cutting.
K.
Day-care center and nursery.
L.
Family division.
M.
Home day care.
N.
Home occupation.
O.
Large lot division.
P.
Off-street parking.
Q.
Parks and playgrounds.
R.
Portable sawmills and chippers.
S.
Preserve and conservation areas.
T.
Public utilities (extension).
U.
Schools, churches, libraries.
V.
Single cut subdivision.
W.
Single-family dwelling.
X.
Subdivision, major.
Y.
Subdivision, minor.
Z.
Temporary family health care structure.
[Amended 4-15-2015]
AA.
Wayside stand.
BB.
Wireless support structures up to 80 feet.
[Amended 2-21-2018]
§ 325-9.3 Permitted uses by special exception.
[Amended 2-21-2018; 11-19-2025]
A.
Adult-care facility.
B.
Agriculture, intensive.
C.
Airport and private air strip.
D.
Amusement park/commercial recreational facility.
E.
Auction barn.
F.
Blacksmith shop.
G.
Cabinet and furniture making.
H.
Church campground.
I.
Country general store/convenience store.
J.
(Reserved)
K.
Farm machinery sales and service.
L.
Feed and flour mills.
M.
Feed and seed stores.
N.
Golf driving range.
O.
Greenhouse and nursery.
P.
Hunt, golf or boat clubs and lodges.
Q.
Public utilities (new).
R.
Pulpwood yard.
S.
Service and repair of farm, yard, garden, blacksmith and logging implements and equipment.
T.
Turkey shoots.
U.
Wholesale business/storage warehouse.
V.
Wireless support structures in excess of 80 feet.
§ 325-9.4 Accessory uses.
§ 325-9.6 Building height.
[Amended 5-17-2006]
Thirty-five feet, except:
A.
The height limit for dwellings may be increased up to 45 feet and up to three stories, provided there are two side yards for each permitted use, each of which is 20 feet or more, plus one foot or more of side yard for each additional foot of building height over 35 feet.
B.
A public or semipublic building such as a school, church, or library may be erected to a height of 60 feet from grade, provided that required front, side and rear yards shall be increased one foot for each foot of building height over 35 feet.
C.
Church spires, belfries, cupolas, monuments, silos, barns, water towers, chimneys, flues, flagpoles, and wireless support structures are exempt. Parapet wall may be up to four feet above the height of the building on which the walls rest.
[Amended 2-21-2018]
D.
No accessory building which is less than 20 feet from any lot line shall be more than one story high.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
E.
All accessory buildings shall be less than the main building in height except when located on a parcel of 10 acres or more.